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Raindrops

Richard Zelley



Recently I was sitting beside a mountain stream and reading Thomas Keating’s Open Mind, Open Heart. As I reflected upon his metaphor that consciousness is a river and thoughts are the boats that float on it, I realized that consciousness may sometimes flow smoothly and gently but also may become turbulent and forceful depending upon the gradient and any obstacles along the way. Just as the rapids of a river continually transform the riverbed and surrounding banks, so the turbulence in our minds may unlock the creative energy that carries us beyond the banks of our ordinary consciousness. So the idea is not to remove the obstacles but to flow around those things that create the turbulence.

Consciousness is not the water, but the flow of the water. The water is Divinity – it can manifest as a still pool, a spring, a stream, a lake, a river, a waterfall, a bay or gulf, and an ocean. Even a single raindrop contains the complete essence of the Divine. When the sun shines through this drop of water, the drop sparkles and creates a rainbow of light. It also reflects its surroundings creating a beautiful new perspective on reality. A human soul is like a raindrop reflecting the Divine essence. When the soul is enlightened, it sparkles like the raindrop in the sunlight. When we reflect on our soul, our inner essence, we gain a new perspective on ourselves and our true nature.

The raindrop/soul is transformed in two ways. The raindrop may be “evaporated” by light into a totally new form (water vapor) just as the soul is transformed by rising to ever higher levels of consciousness. Or the raindrop may be assimilated collectively into a pool, spring, stream, etc. When the raindrop is single it does not flow – it must combine with other drops and have a gradient before it can flow. The gradient could possibly by our free will or intention or it could be the collective consciousness or group energy in which we live.

Spirit or ruach (breath) is dynamic, not static – it flows like the stream. The paradox is that we perceive the Divine by being quiet or still – we listen for the “still, small voice” – yet, we always need to move in the spirit. Perhaps receptivity is active, not passive. To truly be receptive we need to flow in harmony with the Divine breath within. We can only flow when we harmonize or vibrate with the Spirit at a sympathetic frequency. We may find this frequency by surrendering our will to the Divine Will and by dissolving the habitual concerns of our ego. Then and only then will we be truly receptive to the Divine within.


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A human soul is like a raindrop reflecting the Divine essence. When
the soul is enlightened, it sparkles like the raindrop
in the sunlight. When we reflect on our soul, our inner essence, we gain
a new perspective on ourselves and our
true nature.